USA > Pennsylvania > Martial deeds of Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 > Part 33
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The Forty-seventh, Colonel Wickersham, was sent to the mining regions of Schuylkill county, where trouble was threat- ened; but through the resolute front, and timely precautions of the Colonel commanding, no collision occurred. The Thirty- eighth, Colonel Horn, the Forty-ninth, Colonel Murphy, and the Fifty-third, Colonel Royer, were sent into the north central portions of the state, to enforce authority where disturbance was apprehended. The Forty-sixth, Colonel Jolin J. Lawrence, the Fifty-ninth, Colonel McLean, and the Thirty-fourth, Colonel Albright, were sent to Philadelphia. Rioting and wild disorder was at the moment prevailing among the turbulent classes in New York city, and seemed ready at any moment to break forth here in lawless acts. By the prudence of these officers the excite- ment was allayed, and bloodshed averted.
John Morgan, a daring rebel cavalry leader, that he might make a diversion in favor of Lee, who was moving on Gettysburg, set out from Sparta, Tennessee, on the 26th of June, the day after that on which the last of Lee's forces crossed the Potomac, with two thousand men and four guns, for a raid through the border free states. Recruits joined him on the way through Kentucky until his numbers were doubled, and his guns increased to ten. He crossed the Ohio river at Brandenburg, forty miles below Louisville, on the 7th of July, and struck out boldly through the country, burning mills, destroying railroads and telegraph lines, and levying contributions of money and horses. Trees were felled to impede his course, and the militia sprang up on all sides to harass, but not in sufficient force to corner him. He was followed by Union cavalry under Generals Hobson and Shackle- ford, and gunboats upon the Ohio patrolled the river. Having passed through Salem, Versailles, Sardinia, Piketon, and Jackson
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without encountering any considerable opposition, he approached the Ohio river at Pomeroy on the 19th, and commenced crossing, intending to make good his escape, when suddenly the gunboats hove in sight, and a force of infantry appeared upon his rear. Without awaiting a contest he betook himself to flight, leaving his guns, wagons, and about six hundred of his men to be captured, and made the best of his way to Belleville, where, on the following day, he again commenced to cross; but the gun- boats again cut short the passage. Shackleford and Hobson, coming up in his rear, he was driven to an inaccessible bluff, where the major part of his command, after a brief parley, was compelled to surrender. The terms of the surrender were supposed to embrace all, but Morgan with a considerable body of his men stole away, and made for a point upon the river further up. As soon as it became evident that he was heading towards Pennsylvania, and seemed likely to reach it, General Brooks, in command of the Department of the Monongahela, sent a portion of his forces by rail from Pittsburg, to guard the upper fords of the Ohio. The Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania militia, Colonel R. B. McComb, was sent on the 11th to Parkersburg, and in company with troops under General Wallace, was posted in the vicinity, a part of the Fifty-fifth occupying the lower portion of Blennerhassett island. On Friday the 24th, General Brooks moved his headquarters temporarily to Wellsville, and ordered three of his regiments, the Fifty-fourth, Colonel Thomas F. Gallagher, the Fifty-seventh, Colonel James R. Porter, and the Fifty-eighth, Colonel George H. Bemus, to move down, and take position at the different fords along the river, between Steuben- ville and Wheeling. The Fifty-seventh arrived first, and halted at Portland Station to cover the Warrenton ford, Colonel Porter. with the right wing occupying strong ground on the Hill road, and the left wing under Major Reid, on the valley road. The Fifty-eighth arrived next, and in conjunction with a section of artillery, and two companies of Kentucky cavalry, occupied Le Grange opposite Wellsville. The Fifty-fourth came last, and was ordered first to Mingo Station, and afterwards to the ford at Rush Run, midway between the positions of the other two regiments. On Friday night, the 24th, Morgan was near Mount
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Pleasant, heading for Warrenton ford, where he would have crossed but for the timely arrival of Colonel Porter. On Saturday morning, being pressed in the rear, he again attempted to break through at Warrenton; but finding his way blocked, he turned northward towards Smithfield, feeling successively the positions of Gallagher and Bemus. Seeing that escape by these routes was equally hopeless, he again struck out and made for Richmond, passing by Steubenville. At Wintersville, on Saturday afternoon, he encountered the Steubenville militia, and at night bivouacked between Richmond and Springfield, his scouts reconnoitring the fords above. To checkmate this last move, Porter's command was moved up to Island Creek, while Gallagher and Bemus were posted at fords higher up, to intercept him, if he should strike for Shanghai, Yellow Creek, or points further on. Learning by his scouts that all the avenues of escape were strongly held, he did not await the coming of the morning, but moved in the darkness in the direction of Salineville, where he was carly attacked by Major Way, of the Michigan cavalry, and lost some three hundred in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Colonel Galla- gher had reached Salineville by the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad, and had formed line of battle near the village ; but after the charge of Major Way, the enemy drew off in the oppo- site direction, and turned again northward, as if to strike Smith's Ferry, or Beaver. Again were the Pennsylvania regiments moved up, and preparations made to meet this new disposition, when tidings were received that General Shackleford had cap- tured Morgan, and what was left of his band. The prisoners were at once placed in charge of the Fifty-eighth, and were held until turned over to the authorities of the Department, by whom they were incarcerated in the Ohio Penitentiary in retaliation for alleged irregular treatment of Colonel Straight by the rebel government. As soon as the chase for Morgan was over, the Pennsylvania regiments returned to camp, near Pittsburg.
With the close of this raid ended the rebel invasion of the North of 1863. Further service for which the militia had been called was no longer required, and during the months of August and September, the majority of the men were mustered out. In the department of the Monongahela, there were five regiments
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and a company of artillery, and one of cavalry, an aggregate of 3750. In the department of the Susquehanna were thirty-one regiments of infantry, besides a number of independent companies of infantry and artillery, aggregating 28,354. There were, in addition, 4486 troops recruited in this period in these departments for six months' service. The sum total called forth by the inva- sion in addition to the regular contributions to the United States service, was 36,574. With few exceptions, they did not engage the enemy. But they, nevertheless, rendered most important service. They came forward at a moment when there was pressing need. Their presence gave great moral support to the Union Army, and had that army been defeated at Gettysburg, they would have taken the places of the fallen, and would have fought with a valor and desperation worthy of veterans. Called suddenly to the field from the walks of private life, without a moment's opportunity for drill or discipline, they grasped their muskets, and by their prompt obedience to every order, showed their willingness-all unprepared as they were-to face the enemy before whom veterans had often quailed. The bloodless campaigns of the militia may be a subject for playful satire; but in the strong arms and sturdy hearts of the yeomanry of the land, who spring to arms at the moment of danger, and when that danger has passed cheerfully lay them down again, rests a sure guaranty for the peace and security of the country.
The year 1863 closed hopefully for the Union. The capture of Vicksburg and Port Hudson in mid-summer had opened the Mississippi river, and had severed the rebel power. The victory at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge had saved the Union Army there from destruction, to which it was threatened, and rendered that important position secure. Longstreet, who had besieged Burnside at Knoxville, was foiled in his purposes and driven away with considerable loss. And the gaining of the Battle of Gettysburg by the Army of the Potomac had relieved the border territory at the east, and had so broken the power and esprit of the Army of Northern Virginia, as to greatly modify the dread which it had inspired.
But the rebel authority was everywhere defiant; and while the armies were in winter quarters, vigorous efforts were put forth to
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fill their depleted, ranks, and be prepared to enter. upon the spring campaign with renewed power. .. So thoroughly was the country searched and the men gathered up that General Grant afterwards very significantly observed: "The little boys and old men are guarding prisoners, guarding railroad bridges, and form- ing a good part of their garrisons in intrenched positions. A man lost by them cannot be replaced. They have robbed the cradle and the grave equally to get their present force."
In the Union Army, a large portion of the Pennsylvania troops, recruited for three years, would in a few months be entitled to discharge. Opportunities were given them to re-enlist for an additional term, and thus become veteran regiments. On this condition a liberal furlough was offered, and the privilege afforded to fill up their depleted ranks with new recruits .. Large numbers embraced this proposition, and the winter of 1863-64 was made memorable by the return of veteran soldiers, and activity in recruiting fresh levies.
The spring campaign of 1864 opened carly in May on the part of the Army of the Potomac, General Grant, who had been made Lieutenant General and placed in command of all the armies of the United States, accompanying it, and having the general direction of its operations. The Battle of the Wilderness, Laurel Ilill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg followed in rapid succession and with terrible destruction of life. In the meantime General Sigel had been left in command of the Department of West Virginia, and by his order, simultaneously with the movement of Grant into the Wil- derness and Sherman towards Atlanta, General Crook moved from Kanawha for the destruction of the Virginia and Tennessee rail- road, and General Averell, with another column, pushed out from Beverly to cooperate with Crook. Sigel in person, with 8500 troops, moved up the valley, and at New Market met the enemy under Breckenridge, where Sigel was defeated and retired to Cedar Creek. He was soon after relieved, and General Ilunter succeeded him, who, having repaired losses and stripped to light marching order, again commenced an advance up the valley. At Piedmont a battle was fought in which Hunter gained a hand- some victory, and the rebel commander, William E. Jones, was
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killed. Hunter pushed forward to form junction with Crook and Averell, who had been ordered up, fought at Quaker Church, and moved upon Lynchburg, an important depot of supply to the rebel army, repulsing the enemy on the 18th of June in their attack upon him. From prisoners taken Hunter discovered that he was fighting veteran troops of Lee's army, and that Early had been detached with an entire corps, which was hourly arriving by rail. Hunter found that he was in a perilous situa- tion, two hundred and fifty miles from his base, with ammunition running low, and greatly outnumbered. He, accordingly, deter- mined to retire by the Kanawha Valley, and thence back by the Ohio river and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Martinsburg. This left the Shenandoah Valley open to the enemy, and he was not slow to take advantage of his opportunity.
Early advanced into Maryland at the beginning of July, was checked for a while at the Monocacy by General Lew Wallace, but soon forced his way to the outer defences of the city of Wash- ington. By this time troops from the Army of the Potomac arrived-the Sixth corps under General Wright, and the Nine- teenth under General Gilmore-and Early was driven back into the valley.
The approach of the enemy to the border created much solici- tude among the inhabitants of Maryland and Pennsylvania, who had felt the weight of the invaders' blows in the previous years. Upon intelligence of the enemy's advance being received, the farmers again sent away their stock, and the merchants in the towns and villages their merchandize and valuables. General Couch was still at the head of the Department of the Susque- hanna, and when it was discovered that Hunter had been driven, and that Early with a large army was moving down for the annual invasion, a call was made for volunteers from Pennsyl- vania to serve for the period of one hundred days in the States of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and at Washington and its vicinity. Under this call six regiments and a battalion of six companies were raised. Recognizing the great danger to which the border was exposed from daring rebel raiders, Governor Cur- tin, and Governor Bradford of Maryland united in a request to the General Government that the forces raised for this emergency
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should be retained within the limits of these states; but this was refused. General Couch also made a request that the General Government should simply furnish uniforms to citizen soldiers to be raised in the six border counties most exposed, who should hold themselves as minute men ready to fly to arms the moment a rebel force was found approaching. This also was refused. The regiments of one hundred days men as fast as they were got ready for the field were called away, the last regiment leaving the state on the 29th of July.
On the very evening of this day, the rebel Generals McCausland and Johnson, with some three thousand mounted men with six guns, crossed the Potomac at Clear Spring and moved at once to Mercersburg, seizing and cutting the telegraph wires before any messages could be sent. The place was picketed by forty-five men under Lieutenant McLean, who gallantly checked the advance, as he withdrew, keeping his face to the foe. Another rebel column under Vaughn and Jackson, consisting of three thou- sand more mounted men, crossed at Williamsport, and advanced to and beyond Hagerstown, and a third crossed at Shepherdstown and marched to Leitersburg. General Averell with the remnants of his command, consisting of less than 2500 effective troops, worn out with the hard service in the Hunter campaign, was in the neighborhood of Hagerstown, and finding himself overmatched and hemmed in on three sides, withdrew towards Greencastle, and thence by Mount Hope, fearing a combined attack. Lieu- tenant McLean, at the instant he was apprised of the presence of the enemy, and found that the telegraph wires were broken, sent a messenger to warn General Couch, who was at Chambers- burg. This officer, though a Major General, and in command of a department, was without troops, and the most he could do was to gather all the Government stores and move them away by rail, and give notice to the citizens to prepare themselves for the advent of the foe. Lieutenant MeLean, who kept a bold front, was driven as far as the western turnpike at St. Thomas by one o'clock A. M. of Saturday the 30th, and at three A. M. had reached the western toll-gate leading into the town of Chambersburg. As the stores were not yet all ready for shipment, Major Maneely of Couchi's staff determined to hold the enemy in check until all
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could be got away, boldly pushed out with one gun, aided by a squad of men, and planting it on a hill a short distance west of the fair ground, opened fire, killing one and wounding five by his first discharge. As it was too dark to discover just what force was opposing them, the enemy halted until daylight. By that time the trains had all been moved, and, being well mounted, Mancely and McLean with the handful of men were able to with- draw without loss. The enemy employed his time, while thus checked, in planting his batteries in commanding positions, and in bringing up his entire column. At six A. M. he opened with his batteries upon the town ; but after firing a few shots, which fortunately did no damage, and discovering that there was no force opposing him, he ordered an advance. Suddenly his skirmishers entered by every street and alley leading from the south and southwest, and finding the way clear, four hundred and fifty of the cavalry came dashing in. McCausland was in command, accompanied by Generals Bradley Johnson and Harry Gilmore. While the leaders were making terms with citizens whom they met for the ransom of the town, the soldiers were busy in plundering. " Hats, caps, boots, watches and silver-ware, and everything of value were appropriated without ceremony from citizens on the streets, and when a man was met whose appearance indicated a plethoric purse, a pistol was presented to his head, with the order to 'deliver,' with a dexterity that would have done credit to the freebooting accomplishments of an Italian brigand."
Not finding any representative persons to furnish the money demanded to save the place, McCausland ordered the Court House bell rung to draw the people together. But few persons, how- ever, came. Captain Fitzhugh, an officer of McCausland's staff, produced an order, which he read to those present, signed by General Jubal Early, directing the command to proceed to Cham- bersburg and demand $100,000 in gold, or in lieu thereof $500,000 in Northern currency, and if the demand was not complied with, to burn the town in retaliation for six houses alleged to have been destroyed, or in some way injured by Hun- ter in his campaign in the upper part of the valley,-a town of 6000 inhabitants, with all its dwellings and public edifices, set
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against six buildings of some sort, far up the Shenandoah Valley. But no attention was paid to the threat. Infuriated by the indifference of the citizens, Gilmore rode up to a group, consist- ing of Thomas B. Kennedy, William Mclellan, J. McDowell Sharpe, Dr. J. C. Richards, William HI. McDowell, W. S. Everett, Edward G. Etter, and M. A. Foltz, and ordered them under arrest. Hoping to gain by intimidation what he had failed to obtain voluntarily, they were told that they would be held for the pay- ment of the sum demanded, and in default they would be driven captives to Richmond, and the town destroyed. While he was thus employed the torch was applied, and the fell work of destruction was begun, the hostages being released when it was found that threats would have no effect.
Scarcely ten minutes from the time the first building was fired, the whole business and most thickly peopled part of the town was in flames. No notice was given to the inhabitants of the intention to burn, and no time was allowed for the removal of women and children, but like fiends let loose from the nether world, they went straight to their work. Burning parties were sent into each quarter of the town, and having apportioned the streets, the work was made thorough and quick. Every house, or, at most every other house, was fired. Entering by beating down the door, if found closed, they would break up the furni- ture, and pouring oil upon it, apply the torch. No conception can be formed of the horrors of the scene. The following graphic account, published in the Rebellion Record, is understood to be from the pen of Mr. MeClure, previously quoted : "They almost invariably entered every room of each house, rifled the drawers of every bureau, appropriated money, jewelry, watches, and any other valuables, and often would present pistols to the heads of inmates, men and women, and demand money or their lives. In nearly half the instances, they demanded owners to ransom their property, and in a few cases it was done and the property burned. Although we have learned of a number of per- sons, mostly widows, who paid them sums from twenty-five to two hundred dollars, we know of but one case where the property was saved thereby. The main object of the men seemed to be plunder. Not a house escaped rifling -- all were plundered of everything
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that could be carried away. In most cases houses were entered in the rudest manner, and no time whatever allowed even for the families to escape, much less to save anything. Many families had the utmost difficulty to get themselves and children out in time, and not one half had so much as a change of clothing with them. They would rush from story to story to rob, and always fire the building at once, in order to keep the family from detecting their robberies. Feeble and helpless women and chil- dren were treated like brutes-told insolently to get out or burn; and even the sick were not spared. Several invalids had to be carried out as the red flames threatened their couches. Thus the work of desolation continued for two hours; more than half of the town on fire at once ; and the wild glare of the flames, the shrieks of women and children, and often louder than all, the terrible blasphemy of the rebels, conspired to present such a scene of horror as has never been witnessed by the present generation. No one was spared save by accident. The widow and the fatherless cried and plead in vain that they would be homeless and helpless. A rude oath would close all hope of mercy, and they would fly to save their lives. The old and infirm who tottered before them were thrust aside, and the torch applied in their presence to hasten their departure. So thoroughly were all of them masters of the trade of desolation, that there is scarcely a house standing in Chambersburg to-day that they attempted to burn, although their stay did not exceed two hours. In that brief period, the major portion of Chambersburg-its chief wealth and business-its capital and elegance, were devoured by a barbarous foe ; three millions of property sacri- ficed; three thousand human beings homeless and many penni- less, and all without so much as a pretence that the citizens of the doomed village, or any of them, had violated any accepted rule of civilized warfare. Such is the deliberate, voluntary record made by General Early, a corps commander in the insur- gent army. The Government may not take summary vengeance, although it has abundant power to do so; but there is One whose voice is most terrible in wrath, who has declared, 'Vengeance is mine,-I will repay !'"
The Rev. Dr. Schneck, who was an eyewitness and a sufferer,
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in addition to his own vivid description of the scene, has given, in a little volume devoted to this subject, the testimony of several citizens who saw all. " As to the result," says the Rev. Joseph Clark, " I may say that the entire heart or body of the town is burned. Not a house or building of any kind is left on a space of about an average of two squares of streets, extending each way from the centre, with some four or five exceptions where the buildings were isolated. Only the outskirts are left. The Court House, Bank, Town Hall, German Reformed Printing Establishment, every store and hotel in the town, and every mill and factory in the space indicated, and two churches were burned. Between three and four hundred dwellings were burned, leaving at least 2500 persons without a home or a hearth. In value three-fourths of the town was destroyed. The scene of desola- tion must be seen to be appreciated. Crumbling walls, stacks of chimneys, and smoking embers, are all that remain of once elegant and happy homes. As to the scene itself, it beggars description. My own residence being in the outskirts, and feeling it the call of duty to be with my family, I could only look on from without. The day was sultry and calm, not a breath stir- ring, and each column of smoke rose black, straight, and single; first one, then another, and another, and another, until the columns blended and commingled, and then one lurid column of smoke and flame rose perpendicularly to the sky, and spread out into a vast crown like a cloud of sackcloth hanging over the doomed city; whilst the roar and surging, the crackling and crash of falling timbers and walls, broke upon the still air with a fearful dissonance; and the screams and sounds of agony of burning animals made the welkin horrid with echoes of woe. It was a scene to be witnessed and heard but once in a lifetime."
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